Collapsible culvert-form



G. W. STORMS.

COLLAPSIBLE CULVERT FDRM.

APPLICATlON mu) ocnzs. ms.

1 344 775 Patented June 29, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. W. STORMS. COLLAPSIBLE CULVERT FORM. APPLlCATION FILED act. 25, m9.

Patented J 11116 29, 1-920.

3 5HEETSSHEET 2- G. W. STORMS. CDLLAPSIBLE CULVERT FORM.

APPLICATION men ocnzs m9.

Patented June 29, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. STORMS, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO AUSTIN H. LONG, 0F GRAWFORDSVILLE, INDIANA.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented J 11110 29, 1920.

Application fled October 25, 191-9. Serial No. 338,23.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, Grouse W. S reams, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of the city of Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usetul Improvements in Collapsible Culvert-Forms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to culvert forms adapted to support a Wooden frame While concrete or masonry is applied to the outside thereof.

One of the principal objects: ofmy invention. is to provide an improved form which can be instantly collapsed and with: drawn after the monolithic structure has hardened and set.

Another object is to provide means for readily adjusting the frame so that not only its Width but also its height may be changed as desired.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosure in the specification and accompanying drawings.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafiter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of my improved form Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fi 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the lime 4.4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a. detail perspective View of a part of the supporting frame.

Fig. 6 is a detail view on an enlarged scale ot a portion of the frame shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a section of a modified form. of construction.

Fi S isa partial end elevation of a. modified rmof construction.

As shown in. the drawings The culvert form comprises a frame 1, composed of side bars 2,, preferably of angle iron from each end of which cross bars 3 we tend inwardly. These cross bars are pivotally connected at 4 to the side bars and are arranged to overlap the cross bars opposite thereto. Each cross bar is provided with a series of bolt-holes 5, so that it may be pivotall-y connected to its overlapping, cross bar by a bolt 6 at any desired point corresponding to the width of the culvert to be formed.

The bolts 6 also pivotally connect the cross-bars 3 to a longitudinal draw bar 30 so that by pulling on the latter the cross bars may be brought into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Thus movement of the cross bars brings the side bars 2 together and therefore away from the wooden frame work temporarily supported by the culvert frame 1.

To each side bar side supports are pivotally attached. Each side support comprises a bar 7 having one end pivotally attached at 8 to brackets 9 secured to the side bars 2 as shown in Fig. 4. The opposite ends of these bars 7 are similarly attached to the side bars by brackets 10.

One half of each bar 7 is arranged to extend perpendicularly to the side bar for the purpose of slidably carrying a bar 11 while the other half extends diagonally therefrom to act as a brace for the first half and the bar 11 carried thereby. Each bar 7 is provided with a pair of laterally extending lugs 12 which are bent so as to slidably embrace the bar 11 as shown in Fig. 1. A slot 13 is provided in the bar 7 in which a bolt 14 passinp through the lower end of the bar 11 may side. By tightening the nut on the bolt 14, the bar 11 may be held in any desired position relatively to the bar 7.

The top of the frame is formed of crosspieces 15, pivotalzly connected at 11' t0 the bars 11.. Each cross-piece is arranged to overlap the opposite cross-piece so that the width of the frame maybe adjusted as do sired.

To hold the cross-pieces 15 and thereby the bars 7 and 11 in position a supplementary supporting frame 16 is provided. This frame comprises a pair of angle bars 17 ri idly connected at each end by bars 18. T1118 supporting frame is arranged to rest on and slide freely on the cross bars 3 of the main frame. U-shaped supports 19 are pivotally connected at 20 to the angle bars 17 so that they may fold down onto the lower part of the frame 16 when the device is collapsed for withdrawal from the culvert.

Each support 19 comprises bars 21 between which a U'shapcd member 22 is adapted to slide. Connecting rings 23 hold the bars 21 and the member 22 in sliding engagement while set-screws 24 in each rin enable the parts to be locked in adjuste position. The upper ends 25 of the member 22, are notched for engagement with the cross-pieces 15 as is also provided with a series of notches 26 along its lower edge for engagement with the upper end 25 of the member 22. The width. of the top of the culvert form may therefore be varied as desired by moving the cross-pieces so as to bring the proper notch 26 into engagement with the part 25.

It will be seen that the upper ends of the bars 11 and outer ends of the crosspieces 15, are beveled so that the bars 11 may be inclined inward without projecting any part of either of these members beyond the outer surface of the other member.

Spreading of the ends 25 is prevented by means of a connecting strap 27 secured to the member 22 and the bars 21 by pins 28. A U-shaped member 29 is mounted centrally on the strap 27 for further holding the cross-pieces 15 in position.

In Fi 8 a modified form of construction is siown adapted for the formation of crowned culverts. In this case the crosspieces 15 are of arcuate form instead of straight. These crossieces 15 are supported by means of a rame 31 adapted to engage notches 26 in the lower edges of the cross-pieces 15 in the manner described in connection with Figs. 1 to 7 This frame 31 is connected to the upper ends of the bars 21 by pins 28.

The operation is as follows:

The culvert form is adjusted to the desired size, erected and the wooden forms placed therearound. Concrete is then placed around the wooden forms and allowed to set.

The frame is then colla sod and for this purpose the supporting rame 16 is first folded up b drawing on the cross member 18 of that ame which allows the ends 25 of the member 22 to disengage themselves from the cross-pieces 16 when the member 22 is free to fall.

Next the cross-pieces 15 are allowed to drop and at the same time the side members 7 and 11 are swung inwardly so that these parts assume the osition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. n that position the top and upper side boards may be removed.

Finall the draw bar is pulled to bring the side bars 2 together when both the main frame 1 and the supporting frame 16 may be removed entirely and the remaining boards removed from the interior of the completed culvert.

I am aware that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of the invention, and I therefore do not purpose limitin the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the kind set forth comprising a pair of longitudinal side bars, members pivoted thereto each including a perpendicular portion and a dia onal brace portion, additional members sli ably mounted on the perpendicular portions, crossmembers for connecting the side bars to gether and means for holding the first members in adjusted angular position relatively to the side bars.

2. A device of the kind set forth comprising a pair of longitudinal side bars, members pivotally connected thereto, a cross piece extending inward from the top of each member and overlapping the cross piece from the member opposite thereto, a supporting frame for said cross-piece, having a notched portion at its upper end for engagement with one or other of a series of notches in the lower edge of one of the cross pieces and cross members connecting the side bars together.

3. A device of the kind set forth comprising a pair of longitudinal side bars, members pivotally connected thereto adjustable in length, a cross piece extending inward from the top of each member and overlapping the cross piece from the member opposite thereto, a supporting frame for said cross pieces adjustable in height to correspond with the length of said members and cross members connecting the side bars together.

4. A device of the kind set forth comprising a pair of longitudinal side bars, members pivoted thereto each including a perpendicular ortion and a dia onal brace portion, additional members shdably connected to the perpendicular portions, crossmembers for connecting the side bars together, a cross iece extending inward from the top of each member and overlapping the cross-piece from the member opposite thereto, and a vertically adjustable supporting frame for said cross-pleces.

5. A device of the kind set forth comprising a pair of longitudinal side bars, members ivoted thereto each including a perpendicular portion and a diagonal brace portion, additional members slidably connected to the perpendicular portions, crossmembers for connecting the side bar-stogether, a cross piece extending inward from the top of each member and overlapping the cross-piece from the member opposite there- In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub to, a supporting frame for said cross-pieces, scribed my name in the presence of two subhaving a notched portion at its upper end for scribing witnesses.

engagement with one or other of a series of GEORGE W'. STORMS. notches in the lower edge of one of the cross Witnesses:

pieces, and cross members. connecting the EARL M. HARDINE,

side bars together. CHARLES W. HILLS, Jr. 

